The dance-centric clip opens with the words: "Be your own boss, love yourself, get up and dance. Ciara premiered a "Behind the Scenes" video through Trace Me on August 6, 2018. The music video was filmed in the Auckland War Memorial Museum in Auckland. The video, which features the New Zealand dancers of ReQuest Dance Crew, was directed and choreographed by New Zealander Parris Goebel, who also appears as a dancer. The music video for "Level Up" premiered on July 18, 2018. It debuted at number 10 on the US Digital Songs chart that same week, becoming Ciara's sixth top-ten hit on the chart and first since " Love Sex Magic" in March 2009. In the United States, "Level Up" debuted at 77 on the US Billboard Hot 100 on July 31, 2018, for the chart week dated Augit ascended to number 59 the following week. The three of them previously worked together on Elliott's single " Lose Control". On July 26, 2018, Ciara premiered the song's official remix, featuring Missy Elliott and Fatman Scoop. Ciara also performed the song as a part of her set list as an opening act for singer, Bruno Mars' 24K Magic World Tour (2018).
Fans and celebrities alike participated in the challenge, including Chris Pratt, Kelly Clarkson, Serena Williams, Macklemore, Janelle Monae, Missy Elliott, Jennifer Hudson, and Ciara's husband, Russell Wilson. Ciara added onto the challenge by encouraging fans to share three ways in which they want to "level up" or better themselves. The challenge consisted of fans mimicking the choreography performed in the accompanying music video. In promotion of the single, fans initiated the "Level Up Challenge", which generated hundreds of thousands of responses on social media.
Some critics also believed parts of the song were aimed at ex-fiance, American rapper Future. She later cleared up the message, explaining that she wanted to empower women as she felt her "lowest moment" as a solo parent before learning to love herself. The song's title directly references Ciara's controversial #LevelUp marriage tweet, which some felt blamed women for being single. "Level Up" is a song about empowerment and growth. Chartwise, "Level Up" peaked within the upper half of the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart in the United States, top forty in Hungary and top sixty on the US Billboard Hot 100. The official remix for "Level Up" was released a week later featuring additional vocals from Missy Elliott and Fatman Scoop. Reception to the music video was positive, with "Level Up" becoming the number one trending video on YouTube and spawning the #LevelUpChallenge on social media, featuring fans and celebrities recording their own version of the video's choreography. Its music video was directed and choreographed by New Zealand dancer Parris Goebel, who also appears in the video alongside fellow New Zealanders ReQuest Dance Crew. that was also used in DJ Telly Tellz's 2017 viral hit "Fuck It Up Challenge". It samples the Jersey Remix of " We Are Young" by Fun. and Theron Feemster, with production by J.R. Influenced by the Jersey club variety of electronic dance music, the song was written by Ciara, J.R. " Level Up" is a song by American singer-songwriter Ciara released on Jby Beauty Marks Entertainment.